← Previous Post
Next Post →

The Friday Five: October 5, 2012

Michael Parr October 5, 2012 32

The Friday Five

Friday Five : |ˈfrīdā – fīv| : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button in iTunes and share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up the media player of your choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.

The Five:

“Somedays won’t end ever and somedays pass on by, I’ll be working here forever, at least until I die.” It’s one of those days that won’t ever end, and while I’ve got my tunes shuffling to keep me sane, the time to address each of these tunes is scarce. Forgive the brevity! —MP

“The Truth About Love” by P!nk (from The Truth About Love, 2012)

P!nk is still married, right? I swear I asked myself this question at least a dozen times while giving her new record a spin. My wife was quick to reassure me that yes, she and her husband are, in fact, still together. Or, back together, as it were. Either way, P!nk has some less than complimentary things to say about her man.

“Amnesia” by Dead Can Dance (from Anastasis, 2012)

I haven’t had a chance to soak this record in completely.

“They Don’t Know” by Tracey Ullman (from Just Can’t Get Enough, Vol. 12, 1995)

“Bay-ay-be-ee!” (Yes, I know that was Kirsty MacColl, not Miss Ullman.) Goodness, I love this tune.

“Daylight” by Matt & Kim (from Grand, 2009)

Overexposure killed this tune for me.

“Alive” by Pearl Jam (from Live at the Gorge 05/06, 2007)

Eddie Vedder has the unique ability to capture (recapture?) the exact emotion required to deliver “Alive” with the same ferocity twenty-some-odd years later.

What’s on your shuffle today?

Print Friendly Version of this pagePrint Get a PDF version of this webpagePDF
TAGS » , , , , , , ,
POSTED IN » Music, Recent Posts, The Friday Five
About the author: Michael Parr View all posts by
Husband, Father, Writer, Musical Voyeur, Pop Culture Glutton, Gourmet in Training. I'm the tall guy behind all these short guys. You can find me on the Twitter.


Twitter -

Related »

The Friday Five: May 24, 2013

The Friday Five: May 24, 2013

The Friday Five: May 17, 2013

The Friday Five: May 17, 2013

The Friday Five: May 10, 2013

The Friday Five: May 10, 2013

The Friday Five: May 3, 2013

The Friday Five: May 3, 2013

  • http://www.clangandclatter.com/ Phil

    “Alive” by Pearl Jam (from Live at the Gorge 05/06, 2007)

    For some reason “Alive” never really resonated with me. Maybe it was because I was too busy choking on it since MTV had decided that, dammit, I would like this song if I knew what was good for me, even if it killed me, and even if they had to play the video every hour on the hour for God knows how many days in a row.

    Ahem. Anyway, here’s my Five:

    The Police – “Landlord” (Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings, 1993)
    Fast, furious, and angry, this “Message in a Bottle” B-side definitely sounds more like Stewart Copeland than Sting.

    Queens of the Stone Age – “Gonna Leave You” (Songs for the Deaf, 2002)
    Songs for the Deaf was my introduction to Queens of the Stone Age, and as much as I like it, the best thing about the album definitely has to be Dave Grohl, who handled the drumming duties on all but one song on the album.

    PFR – “Great Lengths” (The Bookhouse Recordings, 2004)
    The Bookhouse Recordings was a Family Christian Stores exclusive album that the at-the-time-somewhat-newly-reformed CCM act PFR recorded during a one-week period. It features reimaginings of some of their more popular songs, but frankly, with a couple of exceptions, I think they should have left well enough alone. This version drops the excellent string arrangement opening of its Great Lengths album counterpart, opting instead for a tinny, weak intro with drum machines and cheap synthesizer strings that segues into an even worse electronic-based reworking of the verses. PFR was a band that drew lots of Beatles comparisons (even appearing on a Beatles tribute album), but for some reason, on this song, they felt compelled to omit those influences. I have linked the better version for inquiring minds.

    Gin Blossoms – “Just South of Nowhere” (Up and Crumbling, 1991)
    Speaking of The Beatles, the opening to this not especially interesting Gin Blossoms song bears a striking resemblence to “Doctor Robert.” That’s about all I have good to say about this one.

    R.E.M. – “Orange Crush” (Green, 1998)
    Great song from major label-, MTV-era R.E.M. I never knew until today that Green was recorded at Ardent Studios here in Memphis, coincidentally the same studio used by many CCM artists during the 90s, including PFR.

  • http://www.popdose.com/ Michael Parr

    Comments like that make me glad that I was spared the overexposure. (I pretty far removed from MTV by the early ’90s.)

  • http://www.clangandclatter.com/ Phil

    Per last week’s Five, I was pretty enamored with the album as a whole for a long, long time. Then Eddie got stupid, at least in MTV interviews. Maybe I should have just stopped watching.

  • MC_Snocap

    Good day, y’all! I have a newbie question: Should skits be included in our 5s? They’re tracks, but they’re not songs; they’re pop culture, but there’s rarely much to discuss about them out of album context. I will abide by Judge Parr’s verdict.

    1) “Make It Funky (Part 1)” by James Brown – “What you gon’ play now?” I love a razor-sharp horn section, yet the loose and loop-like group here is a treat.
    2) “Justify” by ATB – From a trance comp. I enjoy the sound, but I don’t have the tools to say much about individual tracks.
    3) “Why Did You Go” by The Bobbi-Pins – From the great “Growin’ Up Too Fast” comp. Teen girl emotions writ epic! This song manages to feel both handmade and slick. The influence of Spector?
    4) “Here Comes My Girl” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Teen boy emotions writ epic!
    5) “Skit #1″ by Kanye West – The “Broke Phi Broke” one. Played out … I’ll bend the rules and hope 6 is worthy …

    6/Alternate) “The Fantabulous Rap Extravaganza Part II” by Del tha Funkee Homosapien – Briefer, holds up better than Kanye out of context, but still … shucks.

  • Ernie G

    The Ethiopians – Hail Brother Rasta Hail
    The Incredible String Band – Black Jack David
    Onie Wheeler – Jump right out of the jukebox
    Los Dynamicos Exciters – Let me do my thing
    John Jacob Niles – Love Henry (or Young Bunting)

  • http://www.popdose.com/ Michael Parr

    Very rarely does a five completely stump me. Bravo, sir. Bravo.

  • http://www.popdose.com/ Michael Parr

    I’ve had a few skits make it to the Friday Five, though they were lengthy (such as the “Mashed Potato Girl” segue from the New Power Generation’s Exodus, which clocks in at 3:01.) Others I have skipped entirely. I’m pretty sure that I’ve skipped (or otherwise not counted) the skits from Kanye’s record.

  • nathan_az

    “Pick Up the Pieces” – Average White Band (Rhino’s Can You Dig It? The ’70s Soul Experience box set [Disc 5], 2001) An oldie that never gets old.
    “Sparkling Diamonds” – Jim Broadbent, Nicole Kidman, Natalie Mendoza, Lara Mulcahy & Caroline O’Connor (Moulin Rouge! soundtrack, 2001) Too much? Nah.
    “Body of Water” – Elsinore (Yes Yes Yes, 2010) Mostly instrumental, kind of eerie, an outlier in the Elsinore catalog.
    “With Every Heartbeat” (Robyn cover) – Ted Leo (via Leo’s Twitter feed, early 2010) Ted Leo’s done some phenomenal covers over the years, but this one doesn’t do much for me.
    “I (Who Have Nothing)” – Ben E. King, (Sopranos Peppers & Eggs: Music From The HBO Series (Disc 2), 2001) I don’t recall where this was used in the series. The Tom Jones version was a bigger hit, but Ben E. King owns this tune in my book.

  • Rock_dawg

    I feel your pain, Mr. Parr. Oh, how I feel your pain! But I can’t let the Five go by. And if I wait until I go home, I’ll probably forget about it.

    “My Generation” – The Who, Live at Leeds
    Hoo boy, this one’s a monster. I might as well get some more work done and I’ll be back in ten minutes…

    “Rosanna” – Toto, IV
    Love that doo-wop style breakdown and Jeff Porcaro’s amazing drumming.

    “Ain’t Nobody But Me” – Supertramp, Crisis? What Crisis?
    I feel like this album and Even In The Quietest Moments is unjustly forgotten compared to Crime of the Century and Breakfast In America. Lots of great songs to find on those platters.

    “Africa” – Toto, IV
    My shuffle isn’t feeling very imaginative today, I guess. The first time I ever encountered a jukebox, this is the song that was playing. I love the bass and drums during the fade and always wish it lasted a little longer.

    “Do You Love Me” – KISS, Destroyer Resurrected
    One of my favourite KISS tunes.

    Thus ends a very classic rock Five. Have a great weekend fellow Fivers!

  • nathan_az

    If you were named Jeremy, Ten is a record that you would not hold dear, believe me.

  • http://www.popdose.com/ Michael Parr

    “Do You Love Me” is easily in my top 5 KISS tunes.

  • K Tel

    I never got the whole “skit” thing. What the artist thinks is hysterical in the studio tends to be mildly amusing or curious upon first listen and downright annoying with subsequent listens. They totally jack the flow of the music too — the only exception being de la soul’s “Double Huey Skit.”

  • Keith

    Oh Tracy Ullman — my recent article on Dominique Pruitt inspired a full-on Tracey Ullman revisit on the iPod (Tracey Bonham too). Way before she was a Simpsons footnote, Ullman was quite the pop star. You Caught Me Out, You Broke My Heart in 17 Places, They Don’t Know, Breakaway… all genius. The Blondie cover… not so much.

  • http://twitter.com/mordalo Mordalo

    Hey, I missed last week (home sick), and I’m gonna miss next week (out of town), but I’m not gonna miss this one! And thus, unto the Five once again…

    1) Warren Zevon – Desperados Under the Eaves

    A dear friend introduced me to Mr. Zevon’s music years ago, and I cannot thank her enough for that. His first album was amazing, with so many wonderful songs on it. Something about this one makes me want to listen to it again and again.

    2) The Band – When I Paint My Masterpiece

    Yes, Mr. Dylan wrote it, but damn if they don’t make it amazing. Love this song. This is a good Five week for me. I can feel it now.

    3) The Roots – Walk Alone

    How I Got Over is an incredible album, and this track, IMHO, is the best one from it.

    4) Fleetwood Mac – Silver Springs
    My Five loves me this week. This is the live version from The Dance. For some reason, it popped into my head after not hearing it for years, and I had to dig it out. Stevie Nicks never sounded better.

    5) Supertramp – Don’t Leave Me Now
    There’s something about the sad songs I’ve always been attracted to. The elements of heartbreak and despair…resonated with me. I could listen to this song all day long. Surely, for me, this was an amazing Five.

  • http://twitter.com/mordalo Mordalo

    Oh, and I haven’t had a chance to listen to/get the newest Pink album. May I ask…what do you think of it, other than the comments about her husband?

  • http://www.popdose.com/ Ted

    1. “Never Stop,” Echo & The Bunnymen
    2. “Slow Train To Dawn,” The The
    3. “Salome,” U2
    4. “Slipping Away,” Dave Edmunds
    5. “Total Mass Retain” (Single Version), Yes

    Could be called “Kinda Stuck in the ’80s” Friday Five — except for Yes, that is.

  • MB

    Dwight Yoakum – If There Was A Way (If There Was A Way-1990)
    Kings Of Leon – Pyro (Come Around Sundown-2010
    Leon Russell – Ballad Of Mad Dogs And Englishmen (Leon Russell And The Shelter
    People-1971)
    Bob Dyan – Can’t Wait (Time Out Of Mind-1997)
    J.J. Cale – Lies (Really-1973)

  • David

    Here’s my five shuffled selections:

    JD Souther – White Rhythm & Blues from his 1980 album You’re Only Lonely. The song bubbled under at #105 … should have been much higher on the charts

    Jimmy Ray – Are you Jimmy Ray? from his 1998 album Jimmy Ray. Catchy little tune

    Whitesnake – Here I go Again from the 1987 album Whitesnake

    Uncle Kracker – In a Little While from his 2002 album No Stranger to Shame

    Finally, a nice song to end my Friday Five … Guns N’ Roses – Don’t Cry (1990) from Use Your Illusion II

  • http://twitter.com/IrishJava Dennis Corrigan

    Coincidentally, FIve is also the number of beers I’m up to so far this afternoon/evening…

    1. “I’m So Tired of Being Alone” by A Green from The Supreme Al Green. Ah, yes, the sweet stylings of the Reverend Al

    2. “The Girl From New York City” by the Beach Boys from Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) 3… 2… 1… Fuck Mike Love

    3. “A World of Our Own” by the Smithereens from 2011. A fine comeback record from last year. They’re at the top of my want to see bucket list. I’ve always said that if I had a shred of musical talent and was in a band, I’d want them to sound like the Smithereens

    4. “Tunnel Vision” by the Roots from How I Got Over. 40 seconds of funky goodness

    5. “Rendezvous” by Bruce Springsteen from Tracks – a live version of this Darkness out take. A studio version appears on the Promise. Loved how many songs from Tracks showed up in the set lists at MetLife.

    Cheers, everyone! As always, hope you hear something great this weekend!

  • BRock

    KISS – “Freak” (Monster)
    How long has it been since there was a really good KISS record? Creatures of the Night, maybe? Love Gun? Alive!?
    Charltans UK – “I Don’t Want To See The Sights” (Between 10th & 11th)
    Loved this upon release, now, not so much.
    Heart – “Fanatic” (Fanatic)
    An easy vote for the RNR HOF. This new one’s got plenty of crunch.
    Robert Pollard & Doug Gillard – “Frequent Weaver Who Burns” (Speak Kindly…)
    This album always gets a workout on poker night.
    The Afghan Whigs – “Lovecrimes” (Lovecrimes)
    I’ve never been a Whigs fan, but this Frank Ocean cover has caught my ear several times lately.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Steve-Loring/1809690020 Steve Loring

    1. Hero of the Day – Metallica – Load
    One of the few that grew on me over the years from the Alternica days. Something about the way Het sings “Excuse me while I tend to how I feel” always worked for me in a way I can’t describe. Dunno.
    2. Rape – Leprosy – 1994 Demo Raw, uncompromising thrash from a friend’s old band. Surprising well produced but def not for everyone.
    3. Jennifer’s Body – Hole – Live Through This Say what you will about what is left of C-Love, Live Through This is a front to back masterpiece, imo. And in the days before you could Google or use a phone app to instantly get lyrics, I always thought she sang “And he sells off Jennifer’s Body” in the chorus. Makes it even creepier in a way, but stupid ears.
    4. The Boys of Summer – The Ataris – So Long, Astoria I know I know I know. This cover is a corporate sponsored commercial grab from a buncha wannabe punks that wouldn’t know Black Flag from Roberta Flack. I don’t care, and I don’t buy it. I love this song. With the distorted downpicked riffage in the mix, it sorta has the same vibe as Social D’s version of Ring of Fire, which almost everyone agrees is an all sorts of awesome cover.
    5. The Buzzing – Therapy? – A Brief Crack of Light Kinetic, cantankerous alt rawkkk from my favorite Norn Ironers. None of you have heard of them. Get thee to Youtube. Recommended: Ghost Trio, Rain Hits Concrete, Crooked Timber.
    Until next week, have a great weekend all…

  • http://www.popdose.com/ Michael Parr

    The first two Ataris’ records (Anywhere But Here, and Blue Skies, Broken Hearts…Next 12 Exits) are excellent.

    Also, Troublegum was a fixture in my CD player for many moons.

  • http://www.popdose.com/ Michael Parr

    If you dig the “Lovecrimes” vibe, check out Debonair.

  • http://www.popdose.com/ Michael Parr

    That is two Roots’ tunes this week, both from the same record! Kismet!

  • http://www.popdose.com/ Michael Parr

    Wait, was II the version with the alternate lyrics? It always pisses me off when one of the two shuffles up and I start singing the wrong words.

  • http://www.popdose.com/ Michael Parr

    I wouldn’t throw it out of bed, but I don’t know that I’m going to listen to it very often. There are a few really catchy tunes, but the emotionally juvenile lyrical content gets in the way (occasionally.) If you dig her stuff, it is more of the same with some new perspectives.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Steve-Loring/1809690020 Steve Loring

    Will def hafta check out more from Ataris’ as I’ve only heard So Long…

    Great to hear from someone that knows from the mighty T?! After much cajoling, I got Rob Smith to write them up here on Popdose a few years ago. Their new one is a corker as well.

  • Rock_dawg

    Definately in my top 5 as well. Along with (in no particular order) Love Gun, Calling Dr. Love, Detroit Rock City (can’t get enough of that solo) and C’mon And Love Me.

  • David

    Typo on my part … it’s the original version from Use Your Illusion I. II has the version with alternative lyrics

  • Ernie G

    To be honest, number four stumped me as well. I had no recollection of ever hearing it before or where I might have got it from. It appears the band were from Panama and you can hear the track at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eTedzLsByU. The rest are, starting with the Ethiopians, a classic reggae vocal group, old Scottish hippies, a rockabilly record on Sun and a weird folk singer from the 1940s.

  • http://www.popdose.com/ Michael Parr

    Replace “C’mon and Love Me” with “Hard Luck Woman,” and you’ve got mine.

  • Rock_dawg

    Nice!